The work of the Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch (1453-1516) is characterized by unusual stylistic originality and an intensely personalized symbolism, which makes interpretation of the meaning of his paintings extremely difficult. Between 1480 and 1515,...

Hieronymus Bosch's work contains both surrealistic and medieval imagery such as the owl and the toad. Hieronymus Bosch repeatedly painted the owl and toad as symbols of religious condemnation and the mentality of the medieval time with varying connotations. The symbols give the viewer an idea of the superstitious medieval mentality as well as the influence of religion while allowing their connotations to change in each piece.